The Trump administration’s Justice Department has identified 405 Washington state voter registrations that federal investigators believe may be associated with noncitizens, prompting prosecutors to demand that any ballots cast under those registrations be set aside while officials verify voter eligibility.
The announcement came October 26, just eight days before the November 3 midterm elections, and represents another significant federal investigation into possible violations of American voting laws.
Federal prosecutors say their investigation identified approximately 1,500 previous votes associated with individuals whose citizenship status raised questions during their review.
The Justice Department has asked Washington election officials to separate any ballots connected to the flagged registrations until citizenship eligibility can be established.
The initiative involves federal prosecutors from both the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington.
Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd announced the findings and explained that federal authorities had been examining information gathered through immigration enforcement and voter registration records.
Floyd said investigators had identified hundreds of individuals who appeared to have been registered despite lacking the citizenship required to vote in federal elections.
He stated, “We have identified over 400 non-citizens who are registered to vote and have voted in multiple elections.”
The federal prosecutor also suggested that the investigation could uncover additional cases.
Floyd declared, “This is only the tip of the iceberg.”
Those statements reflect the Justice Department’s current allegations, which remain subject to verification of the individual records.
The federal inquiry has focused partly on lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders.
Although permanent residents are legally permitted to live and work in the United States, they generally cannot vote in federal elections unless they become naturalized American citizens.
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from participating in elections for president, the U.S. Senate, or the U.S. House of Representatives.
Washington officials administer elections primarily through mail-in ballots sent to registered voters.
That system requires accurate voter rolls and procedures for ensuring that only eligible voters participate.
According to the Justice Department, some of the individuals whose records raised concerns were lawful permanent residents who may have become registered through Washington’s motor voter system.
Federal officials said they had encountered individuals who reported that they were registered without understanding how it happened.
The Justice Department also warned that receiving a ballot in the mail does not establish that a recipient is legally eligible to vote.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano of the Eastern District of Washington emphasized the importance of ensuring that legally eligible citizens’ votes are protected.
He stated, “Our purpose in sharing this data with the Secretary of State is to protect the sanctity of each citizen’s vote.”
The federal prosecutors are requesting that Washington election officials review the flagged registrations and take legally appropriate action where ineligibility can be established.
The Justice Department’s October 26 announcement said the list contained more than 400 individuals whose records appeared to indicate registration without U.S. citizenship.
Additional reporting identified the precise number of flagged registrations as 405.
Federal officials said those records were associated with approximately 1,500 votes cast during previous elections.
The number of historical votes does not mean 1,500 different individuals participated.
Instead, some of the flagged registrations were associated with voting histories spanning multiple election cycles.
The Justice Department acknowledged that some individuals on its list may have become naturalized citizens after originally registering.
That possibility is important because naturalization can change a person’s voting eligibility.
A citizenship determination therefore requires attention to the individual’s legal status at the time of each relevant registration or election.
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs subsequently conducted a preliminary review of the information provided by the federal government.
In an October 28 response, his office reported that the federal list contained American citizens and could not be relied upon without additional individual verification.
The discovery means that the federal allegations must be evaluated against updated citizenship records before anyone can conclude that a specific ballot was cast unlawfully.
The Justice Department’s request is part of a broader series of federal efforts to examine possible noncitizen voter registrations in multiple states.
Federal authorities have also pursued related election inquiries in California and Alaska.
Those investigations involve comparisons of voter registration information, immigration records, and other government databases.
Such comparisons can identify potential discrepancies, but database matches do not automatically prove a criminal offense.
An individual may have become a citizen after an older immigration record was created, or a database may contain information that has not been updated.
Nevertheless, the Justice Department maintains that apparent discrepancies require examination when they involve access to federal elections.
Federal prosecutors also warned that knowingly making false statements about citizenship during voter registration can result in criminal consequences.
Under applicable federal law, individuals who willfully submit fraudulent statements may face prosecution if the statutory elements of an offense are established.
The department’s announcement referenced possible penalties involving federal felony charges, including offenses carrying maximum prison sentences of five years.
The existence of a suspicious registration alone does not establish that an individual knowingly violated the law.
Investigators would need evidence of the person’s citizenship status, relevant conduct, and any required criminal intent.
As the midterm elections approach, the central dispute involves whether Washington election officials have sufficient individualized evidence to justify setting aside ballots.
The federal government is pressing for verification, while the state’s review has identified apparent inaccuracies in the list.
The Justice Department has indicated that additional names may be provided as the investigation continues.
